Nope. We just need to adopt the penny pincher's shopping strategy: Buy quality, not quantity; buy off-season or on sale; and take care of the clothes you have so that they'll last.
Before You Buy: Planning a Fabulously Frugal Wardrobe
To plan your new wardrobe, start with your current clothing. Take all the clothes you own out of your closet and drawers and make three piles:
- Pile 1 is for the ragbag. These clothes are irreparably damaged or stained. (Remove and save the buttons before tossing them.)
- Pile 2 includes clothes that are hopelessly outdated without being retro, clothes that no longer fit, and clothes you haven't worn in the past year. Sell these items at a garage sale or give them to charity.
- Pile 3 gets the keepers -- pieces you still wear that look and feel good on you and are in good condition. Now you're ready to figure out what you need to buy to complete a wonderful working wardrobe.
Fashion Plus Musts
For a dynamic working wardrobe, you'll need a well-made blazer or two, two skirts and two pairs of slacks. The skirts and slacks should not all be the same color, but they should all go well with the jacket. Solid colors will be more versatile and date less quickly than patterns or plaids will, but you don't have to think only in dark solid colors. Look for fabrics you can wear year-round, such as lightweight wool, challis, sturdy cotton, linen and silk, and buy the highest quality basic pieces that you can. By investing in well-made basics, you'll actually save money, because the clothes will last longer and look better even after numerous cleanings. Always check the label on a new garment for the care required to avoid spending more on dry cleaning than you have to. It's well worth the money to dry-clean a suit, but do you really want to pay to clean shirts and blouses, too?
